Review of
Obi-Wan & Anakin #1
Published:
January 2016
Reviewer Rating:
Avg User Rating:
(3.65)
I have to admit, I was really happy when I saw this book announced. One of the things I liked about what is now the Legend line is how fleshed out all the parts between the movies were and the context it helps give to what we saw in the movies. So far with the New EU, everything has been focused either around the time right before The Force Awakens, which is understandable since they have a new movie to promote, and around the time of A New Hope.
I was happy to see this because of all the time periods between the movies, the chunk between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones is the area I feel needs the most explanation. First, it’s nearly as large of a time jump as what you get between Episodes III and IV, and second because I have always felt we needed an explanation of how we get from the young kid with the heart of gold from Episode I and the whiney punk we end up with in Episode II. Ok, that was a little uncalled for. There is also a big character development gap that I want to see explained (outside of Legend which has already done this for that timeline). We go from Obi-Wan & Anakin not really having a relationship in Episode I to a fairly tight, if strained, bond they have in Episode II.
Alright, enough pre-text, on with the review. Also, please take note. I am not putting a point by point synopsis of the comic, but I am also not trying to hide spoilers. If you don’t want this spoiled, please stop reading until you finish the comic. Or rather
**SPOILERS BELOW**
This issue really comes in two flavors, the stuff on planet and the flashback to part of Anakin’s training. I will address each separately since, although one informs the other, they still feel like two very separate things.
I wasn’t crazy with the stuff on the planet. I am not a fan of stories starting in the middle of the story with little context, and having to both tell the rest of the story and explain the beginning at the same time. It’s been done to death by now and I am tired of it. I am fine with working out the mystery of the planet, but I don’t also want to spend 1/5 the story line (since this is a 5 issue limited series) trying to figure out what is going on. This works better for a story that isn’t so pressed for time. Especially when they have a flashback to tell. We end the issue two unknown women facing off against our Jedi, and still have no idea what the hell is going on.
The Flashback stuff however I loved. We start to see Anakin’s temper and arrogance creep in and his trying to keep it in check. This really does feel like a mid-point between the Episode I Anakin and the Episode II Anakin, and honestly I would have loved to see a lot more of this. It was exactly what I was talking about when I said I wanted context for the character.
Even better than that is the byplay between Windu, Palpatine, and Obi-Wan. The foreshadowing of Episode III gives extra levels to their conversation, and you get a sense there is this struggle between Windu and the Chancellor just under the surface. Its good stuff and I honestly wish we had more than 5 panels of it.
Aside from the story, I am a fan of the art. It’s modern but not photo-like, which works for the Star Wars universe, especially the stuff on the planet. They do a good job with the color palate between the two sections of the book to make the have the same artistic style and yet feel distinct at the same time. I also like that they found a way to draw Anakin so he looks a little Jake Lloyd and a little Hayden Christensen.
Overall I enjoyed this book, but wish they would have picked a different structure to tell the story.
I was happy to see this because of all the time periods between the movies, the chunk between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones is the area I feel needs the most explanation. First, it’s nearly as large of a time jump as what you get between Episodes III and IV, and second because I have always felt we needed an explanation of how we get from the young kid with the heart of gold from Episode I and the whiney punk we end up with in Episode II. Ok, that was a little uncalled for. There is also a big character development gap that I want to see explained (outside of Legend which has already done this for that timeline). We go from Obi-Wan & Anakin not really having a relationship in Episode I to a fairly tight, if strained, bond they have in Episode II.
Alright, enough pre-text, on with the review. Also, please take note. I am not putting a point by point synopsis of the comic, but I am also not trying to hide spoilers. If you don’t want this spoiled, please stop reading until you finish the comic. Or rather
**SPOILERS BELOW**
This issue really comes in two flavors, the stuff on planet and the flashback to part of Anakin’s training. I will address each separately since, although one informs the other, they still feel like two very separate things.
I wasn’t crazy with the stuff on the planet. I am not a fan of stories starting in the middle of the story with little context, and having to both tell the rest of the story and explain the beginning at the same time. It’s been done to death by now and I am tired of it. I am fine with working out the mystery of the planet, but I don’t also want to spend 1/5 the story line (since this is a 5 issue limited series) trying to figure out what is going on. This works better for a story that isn’t so pressed for time. Especially when they have a flashback to tell. We end the issue two unknown women facing off against our Jedi, and still have no idea what the hell is going on.
The Flashback stuff however I loved. We start to see Anakin’s temper and arrogance creep in and his trying to keep it in check. This really does feel like a mid-point between the Episode I Anakin and the Episode II Anakin, and honestly I would have loved to see a lot more of this. It was exactly what I was talking about when I said I wanted context for the character.
Even better than that is the byplay between Windu, Palpatine, and Obi-Wan. The foreshadowing of Episode III gives extra levels to their conversation, and you get a sense there is this struggle between Windu and the Chancellor just under the surface. Its good stuff and I honestly wish we had more than 5 panels of it.
Aside from the story, I am a fan of the art. It’s modern but not photo-like, which works for the Star Wars universe, especially the stuff on the planet. They do a good job with the color palate between the two sections of the book to make the have the same artistic style and yet feel distinct at the same time. I also like that they found a way to draw Anakin so he looks a little Jake Lloyd and a little Hayden Christensen.
Overall I enjoyed this book, but wish they would have picked a different structure to tell the story.
